Sunburn vs. Sun Poisoning: What’s the Difference?
Key takeaways:
Sunburn is a reaction to the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Sun poisoning is a severe case of sunburn. Both are preventable.
Without the protection of sunglasses, sunscreen, clothes, and a hat, exposed skin and eyes can be affected by UV rays.
While you can treat sunburns at home, sun poisoning may require medical attention.
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If you have unprotected exposure to the sun, even on a cloudy day, you can get a sunburn. Sunburn causes red, itchy, or tender areas of skin. But a more serious condition — called sun poisoning — can also happen. Sun poisoning is a severe case of sunburn that can cause skin blistering, flu-like symptoms, and dehydration. If you have sun poisoning, you may need medical care.
Sunburn vs. sun poisoning symptoms
Damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays can affect each person differently and impact every exposed part of the body — even your eyes.
When the skin gets more UV exposure than it can handle, it causes inflammation. While the symptoms of sunburn are uncomfortable, they’re usually mild and treatable at home. If you get sun poisoning, it doesn’t actually mean that you were “poisoned” by the sun’s UV rays. It means that you have a serious sunburn.
Symptoms of sunburn start within minutes to hours of UV exposure from the sun or a tanning bed. Common skin changes with a sunburn include:
Redness
Itchiness
Sensitivity
Pain
Warmth
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You’re more likely to have sun poisoning if you’ve been outside for a long time without sun protection. Sun poisoning may feel and look like a sunburn at first, but it has more serious symptoms.
You may have sun poisoning if you have:
Skin blistering
Skin rash
Severe swelling, redness, and pain
Fever and chills
Confusion
Dizziness or fainting
Nausea or vomiting
Sun poisoning can be mistaken for the flu or an allergic reaction to something. If you aren’t certain what you’re experiencing, seek medical care. Sun poisoning is serious. In fact, there are over 33,000 emergency room visits because of sunburns every year.
Sunburn vs. sun poisoning risks
Anyone can get a sunburn, but some things can increase your risk of developing it, for example:
Taking certain medications like some antibiotics, antidepressants, and diabetes medications
Having medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis
Having lighter skin tones and light-colored eyes
Living in a geographic region with higher altitude or close to the equator
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While people with lighter skin tones are at higher risk for sunburn and skin cancer, people with darker skin tones are at risk, too.
How do I prevent sunburn?
Getting sunburned at any time in the past raises your risk of skin cancer. This shows that even after sunburn symptoms go away, long-lasting effects of sun damage remain.
According to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. — 1 out of every 5 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime.
Thankfully, sunburn, sun poisoning, and skin cancer are preventable conditions.
To lower your risk for sunburn:
Avoid the sun between 10AM and 2PM.
Cover exposed skin with a hat, shirt, pants, and sunglasses.
Apply broad-spectrum, waterproof sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day.
Be aware of the reflection of UV rays off water or snow.
Stay out of tanning beds.
A good rule of thumb is to apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours.
Sunburn vs. sun poisoning treatment
Respond quickly to the first signs of sunburn. Take the following steps to treat sunburn discomfort as soon as you can:
Find shade, ideally indoors.
Cool the skin with a moist compress, bath, or shower.
Moisturize damp skin with aloe vera or soy-based lotion.
Lower inflammation with over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and hydrocortisone cream.
Drink water.
Allow skin blisters to heal on their own. Don’t try to pop them.
Wear protective clothing to cover sunburned skin while it heals.
Treatment for sun poisoning
While mild sunburn symptoms (redness, pain, swelling) can be treated at home, sun poisoning may require professional medical attention and treatment. Seek medical care right away if you experience:
Severe blistering
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Confusion
Treatment for sun poisoning will depend on the severity of your symptoms. It may include intravenous (IV) fluids for dehydration, medications for inflammation and pain, or antibiotics to prevent infection.
If your skin starts to blister, put a cold, damp cloth on the area. But don’t pick them or pop them. Blisters help the skin to heal. Opening blisters can raise your risk for infection and skin scarring.
While your skin is healing, avoid direct sun exposure and alcohol, stay well-hydrated, and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label if you’re taking any OTC medications, and contact a healthcare professional if you have any questions.
Keep in mind that it’s more serious if a baby or young child develops symptoms of sun poisoning. Be sure to call your pediatrician or seek medical care if your child develops any of the following:
Blisters
Headaches
Fever
Nausea
How long do sunburn and sun poisoning take to heal?
The good news is that sunburn symptoms will improve with time. However, the recovery time will vary from person to person and depend on the severity of your burn.
A sunburn will typically:
Start within 4 hours of sun exposure
Worsen in the following 24 to 36 hours
Last for about 3 to 5 days
When it comes to sun poisoning, the recovery process is longer. Pain typically lasts up to 48 hours, and skin will usually start to peel after 3 to 8 days. With a severe, blistering burn, your skin may not return to normal for several weeks.
When to see a healthcare professional
Seek medical care right away if you have a sunburn and develop any of the following symptoms:
Nausea
Vomiting
Headache
Confusion
These could be signs of sun poisoning.
You should also check in with your healthcare professional if you develop severe or widespread blistering. They will help make sure your skin heals well and that you don’t develop a secondary skin infection.
Frequently asked questions
If you develop sun poisoning, the first step to quicker healing is to cool the skin with a cool compress, bath, or shower. You can also add oatmeal to the bath and use aloe vera gel or hydrocortisone cream to help soothe skin. For pain, discomfort, or swelling, a pain reliever like ibuprofen can help. And finally, remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Yes. It’s possible to get sun poisoning even if you’ve used sunscreen. This can happen if your sunscreen SPF isn’t high enough, if it’s expired, or if you haven’t re-applied it every 2 hours. Some medications that make you more sensitive to the sun (like doxycycline) can also increase your risk of getting sun poisoning even with sunscreen.
Sun poisoning can cause dehydration because it pulls fluid to your skin and away from the rest of your body. If you have sun poisoning, drink plenty of water to help prevent dehydration. Drinking enough water when you’re in the sun is also a good idea because it can help prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Calamine lotion and a lightweight moisturizer with aloe vera or soy can help soothe sunburned skin. Apply them while your skin is still damp after taking a cool bath. You can also apply these throughout the day when your skin feels uncomfortable. Avoid putting thick ointments (like Vaseline) on sunburned skin. These can clog the skin’s pores and cause a skin infection.
The bottom line
A sunburn is red, itchy, or tender skin that results from unprotected exposure to the sun. Sun poisoning may feel like a sunburn at first, but it’s more serious. While sunburn can be treated at home, sun poisoning may need medical treatment. Both can raise your risk for skin damage and cancer, so be sure to take steps to protect yourself from the sun.
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References
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Sun protection.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2024). Practice safe sun.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Sun exposure — sunburn.
Dennis, L. K., et al. (2008). Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma, does age matter: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Annals of Epidemiology.
Ludmann, P., et al. (2024). How to treat sunburn. American Academy of Dermatology Association.
National Cancer Institute. (2024). Sunburn.
National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. (n.d.). Skin cancer facts & statistics.
National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. (n.d.). Skin cancer in America: A growing epidemic.
Skin Cancer Foundation. (2023). Diseases related to abnormal photosensitivity responses of the skin.
